Motor vehicle road map support



Jan. 29, 1952` w T, HAYNES 2,583,647

MOTOR VEHICLE ROAD MAP SUPPORT Filed DGO. 16, 1947 2 SHEETS- SHEET l Jan. 29, 1952 w, T, HAYNES 2,583,647

MOTOR VEHICLE ROAD MAP SUPPORT Filed Dec. 1G, 1947 2 SlIEETS--SI-IEET 76 l; x E5/1 al INVENTOR.

J/ Waffe/z 27% new Patented Jan. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOTOR VEHICLE ROAD MAP SUPPORT Warren T. Haynes, Longview, Wash. Application December 16, 1947, Serial No. 792,027 l (Cl.` 40-I0") 3 Claims. y 1

This invention relates to map display devices, andlmoreI particularly to a roadmap display device for` use in automobiles.

Aimain object of the invention is to provide a-novel andv improved road map display' device foriuse in automobiles, saicldisplay device being clearly visibleA to the driver ofthe automobile when set up in its operative position, and

being readily foldable to an inoperative position when its use is no longer required, the device being simple in structure, easy to install and requiring only a small amount of space in the automobile.

A furtherobject' of theinvention is to provide an improved map display device for automobiles which `may be fastenedv to the bottom of the instrument panel of an automobile and may be readily movedinto visible position, the device also at timesv functioning as a tray for food or the like, and being inexpensive to manufacture, compactin size and sturdy in construction.

Further objects and advantages of the inventionv will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an end view of a map display device according to this invention, shown attached to the bottom of an automobile instrument panel and folded to an. inoperative position.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the map device of Figure 1, said device being shown in operative position.

Figure 3` is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 isa front elevational View, partly in cross-section, of a fragmentary portion of an automobile instrument panel, showing the supporting bracket for the map display device illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

Figure l5 is an enlarged' cross-sectional detail view taken online 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on line 6-6` of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on `line 'I-l of Figure 3.

Figure 8- is` an enlarged `cross-sectional detail View taken on line 8-8 of Figure 3..

Referring to the drawings, I I designates a supporting bracket comprising a flat bar member I2 having secured to its endiportions the respective depending guide blocks`I3, I3. Each guide block I3 is formed with a groove I4 extending transversely to theV bar member I2 and projecting inwardly from the outer legs of the blocks are ribs I5, I5 whereby the grooves I4, I4 are rightangled in cross-section, as shown in Figure 4. Barmember I2- is secured by bolts I6, I6 to the underside of the instrument panel Il of an automobile, preferably subadjacent the glove compartment thereof, as shown in Figure 4.

Threaded through the outer arm of each guide block `I3' is a manually operable set screw I8.

Designated at I9, I`9 are rail members formed with enlarged `rib portions 20,the upper portions of said rail members, including the enlarged rib portions 2Ils1idably fitting the grooves I4, I4 and adapted to be supported therein either in retracted positions, as shown in Figure 1, or in forwardly extended positions, as shown in Figure 3. The' set screws I8 are employed to lock thevrail members I9 in their selected positions of adjustment.

Thev rail members I9 are formed at their' forward ends with flat vertical depending arms '2I. Arms 2| areV formed with slots which have vertical portions 22 and terminate at their top ends in forwardly directed semi-circularly curved portions 23. Pivotally and slidably secured to arms' 2I by means of bolts 24, extending through the slots are the parallel ears 25, 25 carried by and 'projecting from a map exhibiting oase, shown Secured transversely to the lower portions of the rail membersV I9, I9: and spaced below ther plane of the bottom surfaces of the guide blocks I3, I-3 isxan upwardlyconcave channel or tray member 21 which rigidly `unites the rail members and alsoV serves at `times as a support for food or other articles, as will be subsequently described.

Map case 26 comprises a generally rectangular flat housing' having hinged` thereto at 28 a top cover frame 29 which carries a transparent panel 3U of glass or other suitable transparent material.` The Vcover frame 29 has securedv to its edge opposite the hinge '28 a pair of depending spring detent'ngers 30"', 30""resilientlyengageable with projections 3l" on the adjacent wall of the case for releasably securing the` transparent cover in closed position.

Designated at 32 is a follower" plate slidably" fitting inside the case 26` and biased toward the transparent cover offthe case byV a plurality of coil springs 33 compressed betweenthe plate 32 and the bottom wall of the case. Said springs are preferably fastened to the' bottom wall of the case adjacent the corners thereof. Stop ribs 34 are secured inside the case adjacent its forward and rear rimY edges and retain .the follower plate 32 against outward movement. The road map is shown at 3,5. said map being suitably folded to expose the desiredl area through the pane-1 3l);` and being clamped between the' glass panel 3Il'` and follower plate 32 by the action of biasing springs 33.

SecuredV to the sideportions of follower platev 32: at their mid-points" are-laterally projecting resilient pins 3B extending through vertical slots 31 formed in the side Walls of case 26 and engagng ratchet bars 38 secured to said side walls.

When it is desired to releasably lock the follower plate 32 in a depressed position in case 26, as when changing maps or the like, the follower plate is pushed downwardly with the pins 36 engaging the teeth of 'the ratchet bars 38 to retain the plate 32 in its depressed position. After the map h-as been replaced or refolded to exhibit a new area, the transparent cover is closed and the pins 36 are manually flexed to release them from the ratchet bars 38, whereby springs 33 restore the follower plate 32 to its map clamping position.

When the device is not in use it is positioned under the instrument panel I1 in the retracted position of rail members A I9 shown in Figure 1, with the map case 26 folded beneath the rail members and secured in this position by friction nuts 39 threaded on the pivot bolts 24. The set screws I8, I8 are employed to lock the rail members in said retracted position, as above explained. By loosening set screws I8, I8, the rail members may be extended forwardly, and when locked by set screws I8, I8 in their forwardly extended positions, support the tray member 21 in a usable position. By loosening friction nuts 39, 39 the map case 26 may then be swung clockwise, as viewed in Figure 1 and the pivot bolts 24, 24 may be raised and moved to the forward ends of the curved slot portions 23, whereby the map case 26 may be supported against the top corner of the instrument panel I1 in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 3. The map case may be locked in this position by tightening friction nuts 39, 39.

The map case 26 may be set to different angles of adjustment by locking rail members I9, I9 in different extended positions prior to swinging the map case into abutment with the upper corner of the instrument panel as described above.

Secured to the bottom of the map container at the portion thereof which' contacts said upper corner of the dashboard is a pad 48 of rubber, felt, or other suitable cushioning material which prevents rattling of the container and also prevents scratching or abrasion of the instrument panel. v

`Maps` may be changed by opening thermap case 26 either while it is in the inclined position of Figures 2 and 3 or by removing the map c-ase and rail members I9, I9 from the guide blocks I3, I3.

While a specificv embodiment of an automobile road map exhibiting device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations beplaced on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automobile map holder, a bracket having a pair of parallel guide blocks formed with longitudinal grooves, a pair of rails having portions slidably and supportably engaging said grooves, said rails having ears on one end thereof formed with 'slots having portions extending crosswise of the longitudinal axes of said rails, said ears projecting at one side of said rails, a map'frame normally positioned along the said one side of said rails and positioned between saidV rails, bolts projecting from oppositeedges of said map frame at one end thereof and pivotally and said rails.

2. In an autmobile map holder, a bracket comprising a pair of laterally spaced horizontal guide blocks formed with longitudinal grooves, a pair of horizontal rails having portions slidably and supportably interengaging said grooves whereby said rails can be slidablyextended forwardly and rearwardly with respect to said guide blocks, depending portions on the forward ends of said f rails formed with vertically extending slots terminating at their upper ends in forward offsets. a map frame normally occupying a position beneath said rails, ears on the forward end of said map frame positioned alongside of said depending portions, bolts on said ears extending pivotally and slidably through said slots whereby said map frame can be swung downwardly and forwardly from its normal position, shifted upwardly along said slots, to a position above said rails, with said bolts positioned in the slot offsets and then tilted rearwardly, and friction nuts on said bolts arranged to be tightened thereon to clampy frame bottom and said follower plate and'urging said follower plate toward said transparent panel, said frame sidewalls being formed with slots. toothed racks positioned along said slots, and flexible pins on the follower plate flanges projecting through said slots and selectively eng-ageable with teeth of said selected racks whereby the follower plate is releasably retained in a spaced relation to said transparent panel against the resistance of said spring means, said pins being flexible out of engagement with teeth of the racks and engageable with other teeth of the racks to retain said follower plate in another spaced relation to the transparent plate.

WARREN T. HAYNES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name l Date 600,074 Harding Mar. 1, 1898 754,269 Witt et al. Mar. 8, 1904 866,158 McIntyre Sept. 17,1907

1,257,790 Bickerton Feb. 26, 1918` 2,170,013 Detwiler Aug. 22, 1939 2,270,557 Randall Jan. 20, 1942 2,379,975 Luger July 10, 19454 

